And the Ship Sails On (E la nave va)
Dir: Federico Fellini
1984
*****
A fantastic character piece by Federico Fellini and in my opinion, one of the most overlooked films of all time. Federico Fellini made larger than life, strong and vibrant films, he also made great comedy, this being all of those things combined. Freddie Jones steals the show as our quirky, often surreal narrator, a journalist called Orlando, who is aboard a ship full of colourful mourners attending the funeral at sea of one of the worlds greatest Opera singers. The very premise screams brilliant comedy and it certainly doesn't disappoint, the conclusion being particularly memorable. Chicken hypnosis, nymphomania, terrorism, obesity, blindness, Connon balls and a love-sick Rhinoceros, it's Fellini's comedy opera at sea with a light sprinkle of Marx brothers and every bit as good as that sounds.